Putting instruction device



Dec. 1, 1942. E. E. HALL PUTTING INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed Feb. 28, 1941 Patented Dec. 1, 1942 PUTTING INSTRUCTION DEVICE Eric E. Hall, Chicago, Ill., assignor of one-half to James H. Brien, Chicago, Ill.

Application February'28, 1941, Serial No. 381,169

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections along the line 3-3 3 Claims.

My invention relates to golf, and more particularly to a putting instruction device which may be conveniently used indoors and outdoors as a teaching and practice aid for determining and presenting a clear picture of a correct putting stroke and the position of the player and club head relative to the ball.

In many respects, the correct use of the putter presents a more difiicult problem for the golfer than the other clubs. This condition is probably' due to the relative delicacy and reduced arc of the stroke, and the necessity for striking the ball with the face of the ball precisely normal to the intended path of the ball and maintaining this position during the so-called followthrough. Accuracy of stroking is more important with the putter than with any other club because of the small target at which the ball is directed, the cup having a diameter of about 4% inches, and the absolute requirement that unless the indicated relation of club face and ball is established, the ball willnot move along a straight path.

It is, therefore, the principal object of my invention to provide a putting instruction device in the nature of a mechanical aid that enables the user to develop a true pendulum swing and a good feel of the club head during the back swing, impact and follow-through, the club being mechanically guided during its movement so that the player is relieved of this burden and may concentrate on other factors, such as extent of arc and the proper relation of the club face to the ball.

A further object is to devise an aid of the character indicated whose use enables the player to develop a clear mental picture of the putting stroke, which may be used with equal facility indoors or outdoors and by right or left-handed players, which is inexpensive to manufacture, easily handled, and can be employed with any putting stance and with any type of putter.

These and further objects of my invention will be set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and the novel means by which said objects are eifectuated will be definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device showing a putter and gold ball in operative relation thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

and 6-4, respectively, in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 showing the facility with which the device may be swung to different positions for play with cups located at different distances from the placement of the ball.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified type of device which is conditioned for indoor play.

Fig. 7 is a section along the line 1-1 inFig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a still further modification of the device.

Fig. 9 is a section along the line 9-9 in Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, there is illustrated one form of my device which is arranged for outdoor play. It comprises a bar or rod it of any suitable diameter and having a length such that the putter will maintain contact therewith throughout the length of its stroke. The bar is elevated above and in parallel relation to the putting surface and this distance may be varied as desired, although a height of about 2% inches has been found suitable.

One end of the bar is supported by an upright ll having a pair of oppositely extending feet [2 and I3 that are disposed transversely of the axis of the bar 10, and each of which is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures l 4 that are aligned transversely of the bar for a purpose presently explained. As a structural detail, the upper end of the upright H may extend into a slot [5 provided in the bar and may be fixedly connected to the bar by means of a. bolt it which extends through the bar and upright. The opposite end of the bar is supported by an upright I! having a foot l9 that rests on the putting surface and is also disposed transversely of the bar, but ex tends in a direction opposite to the foot I2 when the device is used for right-hand play. The upper end of the upright l1 extends through a slot l8 provided in the bar, the nature of this connection being such that the bar and upright I] may be easily disconnected to reverse the position of the foot 19 from that illustrated inFig. 1. The footing I9 is apertured as at 20 to receive a stake 2! that may be driven into the putting surface to definitely position the footing and a stake 22 may also be inserted through one of the apertures in the footing l2 for the same purpose.

A spool-like member 23 is slidably mounted on the bar NJ and it comprises a pair of parallel flanges 24 between which may be received the hosel of a putter 25, or generally that portion of the shaft which is adjacent the head.

In using my improved device, the same is rested on a putting surface, and in the present instance it will be assumed that this surface is provided by a practice green provided with a number of cups conveniently located so that each may be used in turn simply by pivoting the device about the stake 22. as generally indicated in Fig. 5. The device is positioned on the putting surface and "a line 26, which is to constitute the path of the ball, is visually established on this surface between one of the apertures l4 and a cup 21, this line being parallel to the bar I. The stakes 2| and 22 are then driven through the footings l9 and I2, respectively, and, preferably, the stake 22 is inserted through that aperture l4 which lies along the path 25. As indicated in Fig. 1, the stake 22 may be T-shaped and the wings of the stake may, therefore, be employed to assist in establishing the path of the ball. Any one of the apertures l4 may be employed for the purpose here stated, it being understood that the footing i2 is provided with a number of such apertures in order to accommodate the device to different shaped putters, i. e., different angular relations which the club shaft may bear to the putting surface and to the club head, and also the different ways in which putters are addressed to the ball by diiferent players. These different factors may require that the ball 28 may occupy different distances from the bar It for various players.

In Fig. 1, the device is shown as arranged for a right-hand player, and, in the beginning, the ball 28 is placed at a convenient point on the pathway 26, this position being generally determined by the distance which the ball is to traverse before reaching the cup and also the extent of the swing of the club. The shaft 25 is then placed between the flanges of the spool 23 and moved until the club face addresses the ball 28 in the usual manner. Thereafter, the club is swung backward and then forward to impact the ball, and this forward motion is continued through the usual follow through portion of the stroke. During the entire back and forward swings, the shaft of the putter seats in the spool 23 and the latter is in turn mechanically guided by the bar l0, so that the club head is forced to partake of a true pendulum motion. The spool. in particular, largely obviates the tendency of the putter shaft to be lifted clear of contact with the bar l during the follow-through period of the stroke. The use of the device not only presents a very clear mental picture of the mechanics of a good putting stroke, but also impresses on the player the necessity for the club face being at right angles to the intended path of the ball at the moment of impact and of continuing this relationship during at least a considerable portion of the follow-through part of the swing. One very important advantage of the device is that, since the guiding of the club is mechanically handled by the bar 10, the player may concentrate on other features of the swing until the latter is perfected.

As the skill of the player improves, the use of the spool 23 may be discarded and the club shaft guided directly by the bar in. With continued practice, it is contemplated that the stroke will have become so mechanical that, under conditions of actual play, i. e., without the use of the device, a player's putting will be considerably improved.

In Fig. is illustrated the facility with which the device may be swung to any one of a number of positions in order to putt the ball to holes The stake 22 will thereupon be inserted through one of the apertures in the footing l3.

In Figs. 6 and '7 is illustrated a modification of the device which is conditioned for indoor play. This modification is identical with that above described in every respect, except that special provision must be made to position the device against inadvertent displacement during use. For this purpose, the footing l2, for example, may be rested upon a flat weight, such as the circular disk-3|, which is securedto the footing l2 by meansof a bolt 32 that extends upwardly through one of the apertures l4 and is held in position by a wing nut 33.- A similar weight 34, which may possess the rectangular outline shown in Fig. 6, is disposed between the footing I9 and the putting surface, such as a floor or carpet, and is held in this position by means of a wing nut 35.

In Figs. 18 and 9 is illustrated a still further modification which differs from those heretofore described largely in the manner in which the guiding bar is supported above the putting surface. In this modification, the bar is indicated by the numeral 36 and at one end it may be supported by an upright 31 having afooting 38, corresponding generally to the upright l1 and footing 19, respectively, in Fig. 1. The opposite end of the bar 36 is bent at right angles to form a portion 39 of appropriate length, and which is supported above the putting surface by extend-,

ing through the upper end of a rotary standard 40 that is carried by a base 4| resting on the putting surface. 'I'he distance of the standard 40 from the bar 36 may be regulated by sliding the portion 39 through the standard and securing in any desired position by means of a set screw 42, it being understood that the ball will be placed along a line connecting the standard and the cup to which the ball will be-putted. Accordingly, the standard 40, in this modification, corresponds in a functional sense, and so far as ball location is concerned, to the apertures M.

I claim:

1. A putting instruction device comprising a guide bar along which a portion of the putter shaft adjacent the head rides during stroking of the club, footing means for supporting the bar above and parallel to a putting surface, the means being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures aligned in a direction transverse to and located on the stroking sideof the bar, and means having a directional arm mounted in any selected aperture to visually establish a ball path to the cup parallel to the bar, different apertures estalbishing paths of varying distances from the bar to accommodate different distances of the striking portion of the club face from'the bar.

2. A putting instruction device comprising a guide bar along which a portion of the putter shaft adjacent the head rides during stroking of the club, footing means for supporting the bar above and parallel to a putting surface, "the means being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures aligned in a direction transverse to and during stroking of the club with the head exposed to the player, the shaft being free to move endWise during stroking whereby the head swings With a pendulum movement, means for supporting the bar above and parallel to a putting surface, and a directional arm on the stroking side of and parallel to the bar arranged to expose the club head and ball during stroking and adapted to visually establish a ball path to the cup paral- 10 lel to the bar.

ERIC E. HALL. 

